Brake lever



Sept. 21, 1943.

H. s. JANDUS BRAKE LEVER "by a plunger mechanism assembly.

Patented SeptQZl, 1943 A BRAKE LEVER Herbert S. Jandus, Detroit, Mich, assignor to a Ho'udaille-Hershey Corporation,

Detroit, Mich,

I a corpcration of Michigan Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,709

(o1. i i-541 I v l I 6 Claims. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application for patent entitled: Brake lever, filed June 6;1940; U. S. SerialNo. 339,069. p

This invention'relates to a novel brake "'lever construction and more'particularly to an improved brake-operating device whereby the brakes of' anaiitomotivevehicle are set and released by an actuating member movable substantially in an endwise direction j'and which is released from an adjusted held position by 'rotative movement. An important obj ect of this-inventionis the provision of an'actuating mechanism in which 1ag push-pull member operates an actuating'mein- Another object of the invention is to provide a lever construction with 'an' actuating member movable in a. substantial endwisedirectio'n' for operating'an associated mechanism and which is released from an adjusted held position by rotative movement.

A. further object of this invention is the provision of'a combination straight-pull and swinging type of brake lever construction wherein the actuating member is held in adjusted position A further object of this'invention is to provide a'combination straight-pull and swinging type of brake lever-construction" having an actuating member normally: arranged. tobe maintained by spring pressure in an adjusted held position to which it is moved and being further arranged for limited'rotative movement to release it from its adjusted. position. i I

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an actuating mechanism having a push-pull actuating member with a row of ratchet teeth therealong which coact with a plurality of spring-pressed balls positioned on one side of the push-pull member whereby theballs alternately engageeach tooth on the push-pull member as the latter is moved in a longitudinal direction for effecting. a pluralityof locking adjusted positions of the push-pull member in excess "of the number of ratchet teeth thereon.

Another and still further object of L the present invention is to provide a brake-operating means which is simple in construction, durable and efficient in use, and which maybe readily applied inplace. i T

The novel features believedtobe characteristic of the. present'inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. 'The invention itself, however," both as to its organization and manner of'construction, together with-further objects and advantages thereof,'imay best be understood by reference to theiollowing description taken in connection with the accom- "panying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view ofa brake lever mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional'view, with'parts in elevation, taken substantially in the planeindicatedby the line lI-llof Figure 1; 1 mm v Figure 3" is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower right'hand corner portion of'the'device illustrated in Figure 1 andpwith "a? portion brokenaway and shown invertical cross section toillustrate details of construction of "a. double ball ratchet mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentaryxverticalcross sectional view, with parts in 'elevatiomtakensubstantially in the plane indicated by the 'lin' e IVIVofFigure3; and 1 Figure 5 is'a View similar to Figure3'and illustrating a modified form of 1 support construction for the push-pull actuating member of the! device of this invention.

.The brake lever construction herein-illustrated is a straight-pull (push-pull), type of lever arrangementadapted to, the swinging type::of le- It is to be understoodyhowever, that the actuating lever arrangement of-this' invention automotive vehicle, with the actuating grip portion projecting below and beyond the instrument board in a position for instant use by the vehicle operator. i

As particularly illustrated Figure 1, the

brake lever construction of thisinvention-is "shown as including a' ll! of flat metal stamped mounting plate or bracket andfshaped. to proper size and. form for connection to a vehicleinot shown). by means of suitably provided apertures H and -I2. Witlithe supporting bracket lil attached to the dash or body portion of the vehicle, the brake lever assembly I3'is suitablysupported therefrom for T convenient operation by the vehicle operator.

As best'shown in Figures 1, and, a U -shaped supporting member I4 is connectedto in depend.- ing relation from-the moun ting bracket; l ll iby means of rivets l5 and H5 or the like. The supmechanism of the vehicle (not shown) may be suitably connected to the swinging lever 2| by means of an actuating rod or cable 22 and a clevis which straddles the fiat lever and is connected thereto by means of a bolt or rivet 24. Swinging movement of the fiat lever 2| about its pivot l5 actuates a braking mechanism through endwise movement of the brake rod or cable 22.

As best shown in Figure 2, a u-shaped bracket 25 has a partially circular portion 26 at its lower end and spaced upstanding legs 2'! and 28 which straddle and are connected to the lower end of the lever 2| by means of a bolt 29., A nut 36 is threaded on the end of the bolt and maintained in position thereon by means of a cotter pin'3l.

It will be noted in Figures 1 and 2 that an elongated slot 32 is providedin the partially circular portion 26 to receive ther'einxa. 'pin 33' extending radially from a ratchet rod 34. A coil spring 35 has one end embedded in the ratchet rod 34 or otherwise suitably connected thereto with its other end embracing the shank'of the bolt-29 between the upstanding leg 21. of the bracket 25 and the nut 30 of the bolt. As bestseen in Figure 2, when the nut 301's threaded against the end coil of the spring the'latter is locked in position around the bolt shank.

The radially extending pin 33 is normally maintained at one end of the slot 32 by means 'of the coil spring 35. In this manner, the ratchet rod 34 may be rotated around its longitudinal axis until the pin 33' engages the other end of the slot 32.

The parts described for connecting the lever 2| and ratchet rod 34 permits relative angular movement and limited rotative movement therebetween. The coil spring 35 exerts pressure on the ratchet rod to normally maintain it in a position in which the slot and pin coact as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. i

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower end or the supporting member i4 is suitably apertured to receive through the side walls t8 and I9 thereof a, trunnion-member 35. The trunnion 56 is circular in cross section order to rock in the side walls wh-ich act as bearing supports; A pair of through openings 31 and '38 are; provided in spaced relation in the trunnion member for a purpose to be more apparent hereinafter:

A pair of stamped members 33' and 43 are shaped to provide spring sockets 4| and 42. These two members are assembled together at their marginal flange portionsby if desired, by being spot welded together as at 44. The-member 39-hasalaterally extending'flange 45 which is curved as shown in Figure 3:- to seat against the trunnion'member- 361 Likewise, the member has; av laterally extending flange. 46 which is also curved to seat against the trunnion member. Through rivets or bolts 41 and 48 clampthe lateral flanges and 45' to the trunnionmember insuch a position thatthe spring the rivets.43 or,

sockets 4| and 42 are in alignment with the through openings 3! and 38.

It will be noted in Figure 4 that the lateral flanges 45 and 45 abut the inner surfaces of the side walls l8 and H! to permit the trunnion member 36 to rotate but restrict it against axial movement relative to the supporting member Hi.

The ratchet rod 34 extends through an opening 49 in the trunnion member 35 which opening is normal to the spaced through openings 31 and 38. The ratchet rod also extends through an elongated opening 50 provided in the web 51 of the supporting member.

A single row of socket slots 5| defining ratchet teeth 52 therebetween is provided in a straightline path along an edge of the ratchet rod intermediate lts end portions. Each slot has a semicircular portion 53 and a cam surface 54 sloping outwardly away therefrom and toward the end of the ratchet rod in connection with the lever 2|.

This row of socket slots is :so positioned bythe coil spring 35 and the coaction of the slot 32 and pin 33 as to be normally in alignmentwitha pair of balls 55 and 55. These balls are seated'respeotively in chambers defined by thethroughopen- .ings 31 and 38 inthe trunnion member and maintained in engagement withthe ratchetrod'by coil springs 51 and 58 seated respectively inthe spring sockets4|and42. p i

An actuating handle 59 has a tubular portion 60 which terminates in an abutment collar; 6.1 embracing an end of the ratchet rod 34 andiconnected thereto by any suitable means suchas a rivet 62, pin, bolti-or-;the like. :If idesired,-:the handle 59 may be formed of a suitably colored plastic material either molded directly tosthe ratchet rod; or connected thereto inzamauner similar to that illustrated and described previously. The abutment collarufil: serves as'a stop when in engagement with the web H. forendwise movement of the ratchet rod 34 in one direction.

With the parts of the lever assembly H the positions as illustrated in Figure 1; or inal fully brake-released position, the-"operator merel grasps the handle 59 and pulls it'toward himor in a direction to the right; During movement'of the ratchet rod 34 in this direction; the spring pressed balls 55 and 56 slidealong the slanting cam surfaces 54 of the ratchet teeth. defl'ned by the slots 5|. Tensionpf the brake-actuating mechanism; as exerted through the actuating rod or cable 22,'tends to pull the lever 2| to thelelt. This tendency is overcome by engagementbf either one of the spring-pressed balls against a rounded surface 53 of one of the slots 5| thereby holding the ratchet rod in an adjusted position. It will be noted. in Figure 3 that only one of the spring pressed. balls can at one time seat against the rounded surface of an adjacent ratchet slot. The through openings 3'! and 38 in the trunnion member 36 are spaced closely together in order that the'springpress'ed balls 55 and 55' will alternately engage each of "the ratchet slots as the ratchet rod is operated in an endwise direction. This coaction of parts efiects twice the number or adjusted positions for the ratchet rod as would be possible if but one spring pressed ball was provided. v

To release the ratchet rod, the operator merely rotates the handle 59' a counter-clockwise direction against pressure of the coilspring 35 and to the limit aiforded by co'action' of the pin 33 and the slot32 thereby aligning the spring pressed balls 55' and 5.5 with a. smooth surface of .the

ratchet rod adjacent the toothed-path. The parts in this position allow theratchet rod to be "freely reciprocated in-either endwise direction.

- It is to be noted that the lever 2 I is swung about its pivot l5 by substantially an endwise pushpull action exerted on the handle 59 of the ratchet rod by the operator. As the ratchet rod moves which necessitates providing the trunnion 36 for pivotal connection to the side walls l8 and i9 of the supporting member l4. Thevertical displacement of the ratchet rod as the trunnion member pivots necessitates the provision of the elongated slot 50 in the web 11 of the supporting member.

If desired, the ratchet rod 34 may be a tubular member with the teeth 52 thereon formed by indenting its periphery to shape the recesses or slots 5|.

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of a supporting member which may be substituted for the supporting member 14 previously described herein. In those installations in which space will not permit the use of a supporting member such as I4 illustrated in Figure 1, a supporting member such as 65 may be provided for attachment to the instrument board or other part of the vehicle in spaced relation to that part of the vehicle to which the lever 2| is pivotally connected. All of the parts illustrated in Figure 5 are the same as those illustrated in Figure 3 with the exception of the supporting member.

In this modified form of construction, the supporting member 65 is of U-shaped construction similar to the lower end of the supporting member l4 and has spaced parallel side walls only one of which is shown as at 66. The side walls are connected by a generally curved web 61 having an intermediate portion thereof apertured as at 68 for receiving the ratchet rod 34 therethrough,,

The intermediate apertured portion is engaged by the abutment collar 6| of the handle 59 for re-'- restricting endwise movement of the ratchet rod in one direction. Each of the side walls of the supporting member 65 have their upper portions turned laterally outward to provide mounting portions for the supporting member. As shown in Figure 5, the side wall 66 is turned laterally outward to provide the mounting flange 69 having apertures Hi and H therethrough by which the flange is bolted or riveted to a supporting portion of the vehicle. The side walls are also apertured to receive the trunnion 35 therethrough and which is maintained against axial or endwise movement by cooperation with the curved lateral flanges 45 and 45 of the members 39 and 4B shaped to provide the spring sockets.

While the ratchet assemblies illustrated and described herein provide for spring pressed balls alternately engaging a slot in the ratchet rod, it is to be understood thatany suitable plunger arrangement may be substituted therefore, it being necessary only that more than one plunger be provided to coact with the ratchet slots whereby the ratchet rod is held in twice the number of adjusted positions as is possible when only one spring pressed ball or plunger arrangementis used.

The brake lever construction of the present invention provides a swinging type of lever which is actuated by a substantially straight-pull type of ratchet rod, the latter being held in twice the number of adjusted positions by cooperation of spring-pressed balls or plungers and released for endwise movement by partial rotation. Theprovision of a plurality "of spring-pressed ratchet members for cooperationwith but a single row of ratchet teeth provides more holding positions for the ratchet rods than would be possible if but one spring pressed ratchet member'was provided.

While particular embodiments only of this invention have been illustrated, it will, ofcourse,

be understood that the invention should not be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is'therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall Within the true spirit-and scope of the present invention. s

I claim as-my invention: 1 1. An actuating mechanism comprising a'member arranged for'movement in substantially an endwise direction and for limited movement in a rotative direction about its own axis, socket slots arranged in a straight-line path longitudinally along said member, and a supporting and ratchet mechanism for cooperation with said member,

said mechanism including a support member, a trunnion pivoted on said support member and having a plurality of openings therethrough, one of said openings receiving said slotted member therethrough, the others of said openings being normal to said one opening, and spring pressed plungers in said other openings on one side of said slotted member normally engaging said line of slots for holding the member in an adjusted position to which it is moved in an endwise direction, said plungers inoperatively engaging smooth areas on said member adjacent said line of slots for releasing the member from its adjusted position when it is rotated.

2. A ratchet mechanism for cooperation with a ratchet rod having a line :of socket slots arranged in a straight-line path longitudinally therealong, comprising a trunnion having a through opening for receiving the ratchet rod therethrough, chambers in, said trunnion intersecting said through opening, a member carried by said trunnion having sockets therein in align ment with said chambers, spring means in said sockets, and plungers in said chambers urged by said spring means into engagement with the socket slots in said ratchet rod for holding the latter in an adjusted position.

3. A ratchet mechanism for cooperation with a ratchet rod having a line of socket slots arranged in a straight-line path longitudinally therealong, comprising a support member, a trunnion pivotedon said support member and.

having a through opening for receiving the ratchet rod therethrough,-spaced chambers in said trunnion intersecting said through opening, a member having sockets therein in alignment with said chambers and flanges seated on the periphery of said trunnion and connected thereto,

a spring in each of said sockets, and a ball in each of said chambers urged by the spring therein into engagement with a socket slot in said ratchet rod for holdingthe latter in an adjusted position.

4. A ratchet mechanismior cooperation with r a ratchet rod having a line of socket slots ar-' rod thercth'rough, a member having connected portions defining seckets and flanges seatedon the periphery of said trunnion'member and connected thereto for aligning the sockets with said other openings in the trunnion member, said flanges slidingly engaging the side walls of the support member for restricting endwise, movement of the trunnion member relative to the support member, a spring in each ofsaid sockets, and a ball in each of said other openings in the trunnion and normally in alignment with the r0w,'0f socket slots, said balls being urged by said springs into alternate engagement with each of the socket slots as the ratchet rod is moved through said trunnion member whereby the ratchet rod is held in a plurality of adjusted positions for each slot thereon.

5. A support member for a ratchet'mechanism including a trunnion member having bearing portions, comprising spaced side walls having apertures therethrough for receiving the bearing portions of the trunnion member, a connecting web 

